Around the College
Tournament of the Minds
Tournament of Minds is a problem-solving program for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. The tournament's aim is to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment.
They are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines:
- The Arts
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Language Literature
- Social Sciences
Tournament of Minds is an opportunity for students with a passion for learning and problem solving to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant and public way.
Teams in the Secondary Division must be a mix of students from at least two-year levels (up to and including year ten) with a minimum of two students from the year of entry to secondary school in your state, and a maximum of four students from any one year.
Teams are required to work together on a Long Term Challenge for six weeks without assistance from teachers, parents or peers. They are encouraged to explore possibilities and experiment with ideas as they endeavour to produce their best possible solution. They develop a creative and original way to communicate this solution to others, working within predefined parameters such as limited materials, complex challenge criteria and the deadline of Tournament Day.
Students present the product of their ideas - their challenge solution - to a panel of judges and an audience on Tournament Day. They have ten minutes in which to present and must do so within a 3 metre by 3-metre performance area.
The teams must also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on Tournament Day. This challenge requires a rapid interchange of ideas, the ability to think creatively and well developed group cooperation skills.
In 2020, DSC’s TOM Team received an Honours Award for their presentation!
If you are interested in joining one of Doncaster Secondary College’s Tournament of the Minds Teams in 2021 please show your interest by filling in the application form by Friday, 30 April.
Fiona Cowan
High-Ability Practice Leader
Premier's Reading Challenge
The Premier's Reading Challenge will be starting at the College in Term 2. Keep your eyes peeled for more details about the challenge next term.
Sue Hayward
Curriculum Resource Manager